Researchers from UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography have revealed a massive underwater 'graveyard' in Southern California, where they found caustic alkaline waste. The discovery was published in PNAS Nexus journal. The team found the barrels, which were not actually contained the 1972-banned pesticide DDT, instead found caactic alkala waste. This discovery could have long-term consequences, potentially damaging nitrogen and sulfur recycling and compromising the microbial mix. Researchers are unsure if these barrels are still sealed or empty, presenting a dilemma of whether to allow them to slowly leak or potentially make matters worse through aggressive cleanup.